Government is currently engaging various groups and associations who have threatened to embark on a demonstration over the recent increments in fu
Government is currently engaging various groups and associations who have threatened to embark on a demonstration over the recent increments in fuel prices.
Key among these groups are the Concerned Drivers Association and the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers of Ghana (COPEC).
Transport fares were increased by 15% instead of 30% in February after several calls by transport operators.
However, with the price of a litre of fuel currently costing over GH¢9, government has been compelled to take pragmatic steps to salvage the situation, thus the need to engage these groups.
David Agboado, the Public Relations Officer of the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana who is present at the meeting, said they will go ahead with their decision to demonstrate if government’s response to their concerns are unsatisfactory.
“We’ve been called to an emergency meeting to attend. COPEC and those who wrote to demonstrate, have been called by the energy, transport and finance ministers. All is about transport fares and fuel prices, and it is because of our planned demonstration. If the outcome is positive, fine, but if not, then we will go ahead with our demonstration.”
The government has already hinted at plans to introduce measures to reduce the price of fuel in the country.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Samuel Atta Akyea, says calls for the removal of some taxes on fuel products in the country are in order.
According to him, some taxes have outlived their use given the current economic situation of the country and even across the world.
He said some taxes were introduced to cushion the government in cases where crude prices globally fell but with the price rising drastically in recent times, such taxes cannot be maintained.
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